Grateful Patients Help Others at Elkin, NC Dental Mission
Erica sat quietly in the dentist’s chair with a swab of numbing
paste in her mouth. This wasn’t normally how the 5-year-old spent
her Saturdays, but she needed two fillings. Her concerned parents talked
to one of Operation Blessing’s volunteer dentists through the help
of a translator. Her big brown eyes looked up at the dentist trusting it
wasn’t going to hurt. She was brave throughout the whole visit!
Emiliano and Reina were grateful Erica could get free treatment at Operation
Blessing’s dental clinic last weekend. Reina also had a tooth pulled.
The young couple makes a small income by filling up propane tanks for
homes and businesses, barely enough to provide food, shelter and clothing
for their two little children. Dental care is a luxury. Grateful for this
opportunity, Reina volunteered by running the “patient canteen”
during the 2-day mission.
The Team
Erica was one of 172 patients that received free dental care on February
25 and 26th. In partnership with Eye Witness Optical Service, Cristo Vive
Church and 90 volunteers, we were able to serve those 172 patients with
574 dental procedures. Led by Dr. Steve Harrell, the Eye Witness team
provided 89 eye screenings and 55 exams, sending 67 patients home with
a pair of new glasses. Nurses from Surrey Health Department and Wake Forest
University Baptist Medical Center also gave free blood pressure, blood
sugar and cholesterol screenings.
Giving Back
Other patients were grateful for the mission – like Nelson. The
middle-aged man drove a ½ hour to get his two bottom teeth pulled.
He hadn’t been to a dentist in at least 20 years! Nelson had just
lost his job of 24 years as a shipper at a textile plant after it closed
a few days ago. He and his wife of 21 years were concerned about what
life would bring next. Even though they didn’t have children, they
still had bills to pay.
Pushing life’s problems out of his mind for a while, Nelson received
the dental care he needed on Friday. He then offered to help in any way
possible. Soon, Nelson was working with our professionals to prep the
dental instruments and worked most of both days. When leaving, he said,
“Thank you for all of the work you do.”
Our national medical mission program 2005 has already helped hundreds
of families and individuals this year! Every month our volunteer team
brings medical services including dental care to the working poor, immigrants
and those without dental insurance. Do you know a dental professional,
or are you one? If so, you can volunteer to be a part of our team by looking
at the 2005 mission schedule. You
can also be a part of our team by making a generous gift of $40 or more
today!
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